POLICE SCORE AS FOOTIE FANS GET THE MESSAGE!

Forces UK-wide have snapped-up the software and hardware based system from Cornish firm Astracasting. The system makes the most of opportunities created by people who leave their Bluetooth functions enabled. There are around 30 million Bluetooth users in the UK on a daily basis, a large number of these are using Bluetooth hands free car kits and the others are the under 24 age group of “toothers”.

This technology proved a winner during the World Cup. Police used it to warn fans that they had stepped-up patrols, to make announcements, such as road closures or free bus services and for warnings about anti social behavior created from alcohol consumption.  
The Astracast system has been praised by large numbers of police officers across the country. Now the St Austell business hopes it will be used during 2010/2011 season games.

Sussex Police used Astracast to contact its target group of 18 to 24-year-old male pub drinkers during the World Cup matches in Hastings.

East Sussex Division licensing inspector Viv Johnson said: “We needed to let them know we had put on extra night buses, offering £1-a-ticket rides home, but we could not rely on them reading the local newspaper. We had a take-up rate of 25 per cent.

“We are looking to use this fantastic new technology throughout the neighbourhoods in East Sussex,” added Viv.

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless system and the transmission medium for proximity
messaging. It involves setting-up broadcasting equipment in certain locations, or upon a person for mobile use, and sending information – via text, images, audio or video – to Bluetooth-enabled mobiles.

The Astracast unit – a Class 1 device programmable from a laptop or desktop computer or via the internet– can “talk” to a mobile device within close proximity of around 75 feet or can be boosted with accessories to up to 300 meters.

The units can “pair” with up to 21 mobile phones every 40 seconds.  Powered by either mains, a portable lithium battery or an in-car power adaptor, the unit begins sending messages to nearby mobiles the minute it is switched on.

The messages may be prepared in advance, using design packages such as photoshop, before being programmed onto the device using the award winning Astracast software. The software’s statistical analysis allows users to see how many people have accepted or declined their messages.